Hermes 4 70B (Reasoning)

Elite Intelligence, Open Source, and Cost-Effective

Hermes 4 70B (Reasoning)

Hermes 4 70B (Reasoning) stands out as a top-tier open-weight model, offering exceptional intelligence and competitive performance at a reasonable price point.

High IntelligenceOpen LicenseFast InferenceCost-EffectiveLarge Context (128k)Reasoning Focus

The Hermes 4 70B (Reasoning) model, powered by Llama-3.1 70B, emerges as a formidable contender in the landscape of large language models. Developed by Nous Research, this open-source model distinguishes itself with an impressive intelligence score, placing it among the top performers in its class. It's specifically optimized for reasoning tasks, making it a powerful tool for complex analytical workloads.

Benchmarked on the Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index, Hermes 4 70B (Reasoning) achieved a score of 39, significantly surpassing the average of 26 for comparable models. This high intelligence is coupled with a robust context window of 128k tokens, allowing it to process and understand extensive inputs, which is crucial for intricate reasoning and long-form content generation. Its open license further enhances its appeal, providing flexibility for developers and researchers.

Performance metrics reveal a well-rounded model. With a median output speed of 85 tokens per second on Nebius (FP8), it delivers faster-than-average inference, ensuring efficient processing for demanding applications. The latency, measured at 0.61 seconds for time to first token, indicates a responsive user experience. While it exhibits a somewhat higher verbosity compared to the average, generating 97 million tokens during evaluation, its overall efficiency remains strong.

From a cost perspective, Hermes 4 70B (Reasoning) presents a compelling value proposition. Priced at $0.13 per 1 million input tokens and $0.40 per 1 million output tokens on Nebius (FP8), it is moderately priced, often below the average for similar models. This balance of high intelligence, strong performance, and competitive pricing positions Hermes 4 70B (Reasoning) as an excellent choice for projects requiring advanced reasoning capabilities without incurring prohibitive costs.

Scoreboard

Intelligence

39 (8 / 44 / 44)

Well above average among comparable models (average: 26).
Output speed

85 tokens/s

Faster than average (72 tokens/s) on Nebius (FP8).
Input price

$0.13 /M tokens

Moderately priced, below average ($0.20).
Output price

$0.40 /M tokens

Moderately priced, below average ($0.57).
Verbosity signal

97M tokens

Somewhat verbose compared to average (13M) during intelligence evaluation.
Provider latency

0.61 seconds

Time to first token on Nebius (FP8).

Technical specifications

Spec Details
Model Name Hermes 4 - Llama-3.1 70B (Reasoning)
Base Model Llama-3.1 70B
Provider Nebius (FP8)
Quantization FP8
Context Window 128k tokens
Input Type Text
Output Type Text
License Open
Owner Nous Research
Intelligence Index Score 39 (Rank #8/44)
Average Intelligence Index 26
Evaluation Cost $45.06 (for Intelligence Index)

What stands out beyond the scoreboard

Where this model wins
  • **Exceptional Intelligence:** Achieves a top-tier score of 39 on the Intelligence Index, making it highly capable for complex reasoning tasks.
  • **Open Source Advantage:** Its open license provides unparalleled flexibility for integration, customization, and deployment without vendor lock-in.
  • **Competitive Pricing:** Offers a strong balance of performance and cost, with input and output token prices often below the average for similar models.
  • **High Throughput:** Delivers fast inference speeds at 85 tokens/s, ensuring efficient processing for high-volume applications.
  • **Generous Context Window:** A 128k token context window supports extensive inputs, crucial for detailed analysis and long-form content.
Where costs sneak up
  • **Verbosity Impact:** While intelligent, its tendency for higher verbosity (97M tokens in evaluation) can lead to increased output token costs for very long generations.
  • **Provider Specifics:** Performance and pricing are tied to Nebius (FP8), meaning different providers or configurations might yield varying results and costs.
  • **Reasoning-Specific Use:** While excellent for reasoning, using it for simpler, less demanding tasks might be overkill and less cost-efficient than smaller, specialized models.
  • **FP8 Quantization:** While efficient, FP8 quantization might introduce minor precision trade-offs in highly sensitive numerical tasks compared to full precision models.

Provider pick

Choosing the right provider for Hermes 4 70B (Reasoning) largely depends on your priorities, whether it's raw performance, cost efficiency, or ease of integration. Currently, Nebius (FP8) is the benchmarked provider, offering a strong baseline for performance and pricing.

Priority Pick Why Tradeoff to accept
**Priority** **Pick** **Why** **Tradeoff**
Balanced Performance & Cost Nebius (FP8) Offers a strong combination of speed, low latency, and competitive pricing as benchmarked. Limited to a single benchmarked provider for now; future options may emerge.
Open Source Flexibility Self-hosting (future) Leverage the open license for full control over infrastructure and customization. Requires significant MLOps expertise and infrastructure investment.
High-Volume Reasoning Nebius (FP8) Its speed and intelligence make it suitable for scaling complex analytical tasks. Manage output verbosity to optimize costs for very large outputs.

Note: The current analysis is based on Nebius (FP8) as the primary benchmarked provider. As an open-source model, other providers or self-hosting options may become viable, offering different performance and cost profiles.

Real workloads cost table

Understanding the real-world cost of Hermes 4 70B (Reasoning) involves looking at typical use cases and estimating token consumption. The model's competitive pricing, especially for input tokens, makes it attractive for tasks with substantial input and moderate output.

Scenario Input Output What it represents Estimated cost
**Scenario** **Input** **Output** **What it represents** **Estimated cost**
**Complex Summarization** 10,000 tokens 2,000 tokens Summarizing a long research paper or legal document. $0.0021
**Code Generation/Review** 5,000 tokens 1,500 tokens Generating a function or reviewing a code snippet with context. $0.00125
**Detailed Q&A** 2,000 tokens 800 tokens Answering a complex question based on provided documentation. $0.00040
**Creative Writing Prompt** 500 tokens 3,000 tokens Generating a story or marketing copy from a brief. $0.001265
**Data Extraction & Analysis** 15,000 tokens 3,000 tokens Extracting key insights from a large dataset or report. $0.00315

Hermes 4 70B (Reasoning) demonstrates cost-effectiveness across various complex workloads, particularly where the input context is substantial. Its output pricing, while moderate, means managing verbosity is key for optimizing costs in highly generative tasks.

How to control cost (a practical playbook)

Optimizing costs with Hermes 4 70B (Reasoning) involves strategic usage patterns and leveraging its strengths. Given its intelligence and open-source nature, there are several avenues to ensure efficient and economical deployment.

Prioritize High-Value Reasoning Tasks

Given Hermes 4 70B's exceptional intelligence score and 'Reasoning' variant tag, it's best utilized for tasks that genuinely require advanced analytical capabilities. Deploying it for simple tasks like basic text rephrasing or short Q&A might be an overspend compared to smaller, less capable models.

  • **Focus:** Complex problem-solving, detailed analysis, multi-step reasoning, code generation, and intricate summarization.
  • **Avoid:** Trivial text generation, simple chatbots, or tasks where a smaller, cheaper model would suffice.
Manage Output Verbosity

The model's evaluation showed a tendency for higher verbosity. While this can be beneficial for detailed responses, it directly impacts output token costs. Implement strategies to control the length of generated responses.

  • **Prompt Engineering:** Use explicit instructions like "be concise," "limit response to X sentences," or "provide only the answer, no preamble."
  • **Post-processing:** Implement automated truncation or summarization of model outputs if full verbosity isn't always necessary.
  • **Iterative Generation:** For very long outputs, consider generating in chunks to maintain control and review intermediate costs.
Leverage the Open License for Future Flexibility

As an open-source model, Hermes 4 70B offers long-term cost advantages through potential self-hosting or alternative provider options. While Nebius (FP8) provides a strong starting point, keep an eye on the evolving ecosystem.

  • **Community Support:** Engage with the Nous Research community for optimization tips and shared best practices.
  • **Future Deployment:** Evaluate self-hosting options as your usage scales, potentially reducing per-token costs by amortizing infrastructure.
  • **Provider Diversification:** Monitor other providers who may offer Hermes 4 70B, comparing their pricing and performance against Nebius.
Optimize Input Context

With a 128k context window, Hermes 4 70B can handle vast amounts of input. However, every input token costs money. Ensure that your prompts are efficient and only include necessary information.

  • **Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG):** Use RAG to fetch only the most relevant information for the model, rather than feeding it entire documents.
  • **Context Compression:** Explore techniques to condense or summarize input context before passing it to the model, especially for very long documents.
  • **Dynamic Context:** Adjust the amount of context provided based on the complexity of the query, using less for simpler questions.

FAQ

What is Hermes 4 70B (Reasoning)?

Hermes 4 70B (Reasoning) is an advanced large language model developed by Nous Research, based on the Llama-3.1 70B architecture. It is specifically tuned for complex reasoning tasks and is notable for its high intelligence score and open-source license.

How intelligent is Hermes 4 70B (Reasoning) compared to other models?

It scores 39 on the Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index, placing it significantly above the average of 26 for comparable models. This indicates its strong capability in understanding and processing complex information for reasoning tasks.

What is the context window size for Hermes 4 70B (Reasoning)?

The model features a substantial context window of 128,000 tokens. This allows it to process and maintain context over very long inputs, making it suitable for detailed analysis and long-form content generation.

What are the typical costs for using Hermes 4 70B (Reasoning)?

On Nebius (FP8), the input token price is $0.13 per 1 million tokens, and the output token price is $0.40 per 1 million tokens. These prices are generally competitive and often below the average for models of similar capability.

Is Hermes 4 70B (Reasoning) an open-source model?

Yes, Hermes 4 70B (Reasoning) operates under an open license. This provides users with significant flexibility for deployment, customization, and integration into various applications without proprietary restrictions.

How fast is Hermes 4 70B (Reasoning)?

It achieves a median output speed of 85 tokens per second on Nebius (FP8), which is faster than the average of 72 tokens per second for comparable models. Its latency (time to first token) is also low at 0.61 seconds.

What does 'FP8' mean in the context of Nebius (FP8)?

FP8 refers to an 8-bit floating-point quantization. This technique reduces the precision of the model's weights and activations to 8 bits, which significantly lowers memory usage and increases inference speed, often with minimal impact on accuracy for many tasks.


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